Frank Runyeon

Frank Runyeon spoke at our church. His topic was "Hollywood vs. Faith." Runyeon admits he has always felt torn between the world of the media and the world of faith. He thinks much of America is. We go from our TV to church, and then back to our TV (or I-Pod or computer). We want to live in both worlds. But is that really possible? Over the past 30 years, as the way of life embodied by the mass media has moved further and further from the Christian way of life, Runyeon confides he has struggled to make the right choices. He speaks with humor about that struggle, and shares the fruits of lessons he has learned—from his studies at Princeton to working opposite Meg Ryan on the soaps, from hosting comedy talk shows on L.A. radio to studying at Yale Divinity, from 10 years touring America (and over 1,000 churches) to 20 years as a parent. Runyeon shares the thoughts he’s found helpful over the years, funny experiences on set, and the surprising discoveries that come from “looking behind the curtain” at the wizard of Hollywood. He urges us all to think (and laugh) about the media, not just take a bath in them. He discusses the impact of commercial sponsorship, and the real reasons for all the sex and violence. Finally, Runyeon identifies what he calls the “Three Big Lies” of Hollywood, sharing personal experiences that show how much Americans have come to believe in them and let them shape our way of life. He suggests a surprisingly simple answer to how we can live faithfully as Christians while still enjoying the best of the media.

It was an excellent presentation. He has a powerful voice and message. Our boys worked the lights.